>>10516941>>10516910Honestly here, if you know someone, it's worth going. Panels are iffy at best, it's someone who sort of studied something for a bit who didn't prepare for their panel going up on stage the last minute and fumbling it, legitimately the three years I've gone the smell was iffy from some folks (I'm being dead serious, even with the new venue), there's usually technical issues day by day which may impact your ability to enjoy (they have a "Godzilla Channel" they're able to get in the hotel, and last year or the one prior they cropped it incorrectly with a bad zoom, everything was in black and white, and no audio or subtitles), you need to go offsite for the movies they show at the Pickwick and tickets cost more so hopefully you have transportation to sit in the theater and listen to half the audience thinking they're MST3K when they're not, and the dealer's room is nuts with prices from people who legitimately think they can take advantage from people not doing their research or kids who want something (OG 2019 SHMA KG 19 for $350 right when the repaint hit, $50 for the newest MMS).
Wow, typing that out, i don't think I want to go again.
BUT, on the flip side, there are pros. If you know people, you can be social and hopefully meet more people, you can experience some fun stuff in the area like the food (you ALWAYS have to go to Giordano's), every so often you WILL find a diamond in the rough in the dealer's room or they will have an amazing dealer like Beast of the East who has great prices, if you dabble with uhhh "celebs" (the fuck even is that?) in the fandom you may see some of them, sometimes the guests are really cool, and you can make it a general Chicago trip like going to the museum and/or aquarium, Chicago Music Exchange, even if you don't like instruments, is neat with historical and vintage musical instruments there.
Lots of pros, equal cons, some have a blast, others waste the weekend.
